Hundreds of Israeli Settlers March Near Gaza to Assert Claim Over War-Torn Territory
The settlers were spotted marching towards the Asaf Siboni observation post, which provides a view of the destroyed town of Beit Hanun in northern Gaza.
Video clips of the event, shared by AFP, displayed hundreds of settlers carrying Israeli flags and orange banners linked to Gush Katif.
Hundreds of Israeli right-wing and ultranationalist supporters staged a march close to the Gaza border, demanding the revival of Jewish settlements in the war-ravaged Palestinian region.
The rally was held on Wednesday near the southern Israeli town of Sderot, located just a short distance from Gaza.
Visuals of the march shared by AFP showed a large number of settlers waving Israeli flags and orange banners symbolising Gush Katif — a cluster of settlements that were evacuated as part of Israel’s 2005 unilateral pullout from Gaza.
The demonstrators marched towards the Asaf Siboni lookout point, which faces the ruins of Beit Hanun in northern Gaza.
Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza two decades ago marked the conclusion of a 38-year military occupation of the territory. Around 8,000 settlers were evacuated and 21 settlements dismantled. However, certain factions within the Israeli far-right have continued to harbour aspirations of returning.
Now, in the backdrop of the ongoing conflict with Hamas and with political hardliners holding sway in the Israeli government, several activists believe the time is opportune to press for re-establishment.
“As a movement, 1,000 families — you can see them marching here today — are prepared to relocate immediately, even to live in tents,” said Daniella Weiss, 79, a former West Bank mayor and a prominent pro-settlement campaigner, in a statement to AFP.
“We are ready to shift with our children to the Gaza region without delay, because we believe this is the path to bring calm and peace, and to eliminate Hamas,” she further added.
The participants shouted slogans such as “Gaza, ours forever!” while loudspeakers broadcast messages advocating the “return to the land” and the elimination of Hamas.
Since October 7, 2023, over 60,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza, according to figures released by local health officials. Israel launched its offensive in retaliation to Hamas-led assaults that claimed the lives of around 1,200 Israelis and led to more than 250 individuals being taken as hostages. Of those abducted, 49 are still believed to be held in Gaza, with 27 confirmed deceased.
